Botswana bets on gas boost for flagging economy
Watchdogs are worried about a lack of transparency around a flagship project – and warn against risks for local communities, wildlife and ecosystems. Sello Motseta investigates...
31 March, 2026
Transition Minerals
Deep threats of drilling the Orange Basin
Climate change, over-fishing and oil-related pollution are collapsing the marine environment off the West Coast. Now there’s the added threat of off-shore oil and gas exploration...
14 November, 2025
Red flags along KZN’s South Coast
Andiswa Matikinca tracks concerns around critical minerals mining applications – and now a small harbour – in KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism mecca...
15 August, 2025
The Boegoeberg Blues: A small Nama tribe holds the key to the Orange Oil Basin’s future
A landmark ConCourt ruling has made the Nama people the gate-keepers of ambitious plans to turn the Northern Cape into an energy and mining hub. John Grobler investigates...
18 July, 2025
Namibia plans to become an energy powerhouse – but is it realistic?
Namibia is pinning its economic hopes on development of the Orange Oil Basin. What does this mean for a small economy not ready for a major oil rush? John Grobler...
30 April, 2025
On the trail of lithium smugglers in Southern Africa
International data shows a recent boom in lithium exports from Southern Africa to Chinese markets. Where’s it coming from, and how does it get there? #PowerTracker investigates...
07 April, 2025
Limpopo rare earths project aims to clean up
A rare earths venture at the gateway to the Kruger National Park plans to rehabilitate environmental damage caused by at least six decades of mining. Marcia Moyana investigates...
12 February, 2025
Free State’s helium gamble: A new energy frontier?
The province is home to SA's biggest gas and helium project. Will it speed up the shift towards renewable energy sources, or hinder progress? Refilwe Mochoari investigates...
10 December, 2024
Critical futures: What SA wants from its transition minerals
With vast deposits of minerals that make South Africa a key player in the green energy transition, Andiswa Matikinca investigates the future that stakeholders want to see...
02 December, 2024
Stuck between lithium rocks and a hard place
Zimbabwean communities living around lithium mines have to put up with noise pollution, gas emissions, dust, flying-rock hazards and ground vibrations. Oscar Nkala investigates...
20 September, 2024